Antonio Lotti

(ca. 1667 - 1740)

Italian composer, born in Venice. His father was Kapellmeister at Hannover. Studied with Legrenzi from at least 1683; made a career at St. Mark's, singing alto from 1689 and serving as second organist's assistant (1690-92), second organist (1692-1704), first organist (1704-36), and maestro di cappella (from 1736). He produced sacred music both for St. Mark's and for the Ospedale degli incurabili, where he was active prior to Porpora's appointment in 1726. He also composed some thirty stage works between 1692 and 1719, including Porsenna (1712), Polidoro (1714), and Alessandro Severo (1716, the first setting of Zeno's libretto),- several others were written for Dresden, where Lotti spent the years 1717-19, and for Vienna. He also was a noted teacher, with Galuppi and Marcello among his pupils, his wife, Santa Stella, was a renowned soprano. Burney reported being moved to tears by Lotti's music during a visit to Venice in 1770. Other works include many secular cantatas along with instrumental pieces, six sinfonias and six solo cantatas among them.